All the good Samaritans who had gathered to proffer solutions began to melt into the crowd as tempers began to rise. Those boys could be armed and could trigger a riot of unprecedented proportions.
Nigeria as a nation destined for greatness – we stand on the threshold of history today as we elect our next President C-in-C and the 10th National Assembly (NASS) members. For those of us who are highly involved in resisting the despotic regimes that birthed: insurgency (Boko Haram), recklessness, rigging of election results, politically motivated assassinations, plundering of resources and squandering of riches – it is a new dawn. Sadly, the situation that we are all witnessing today is a product of yesterday’s recklessness. It was conceived, nursed and now it’s grown, matured and hurting us.
History beckons as the verdict of posterity is inevitable. For so many of our compatriots, particularly the June 12 disciples, It was a huge sacrifice and enormous price paid. Sadly, the murderous regimes that laid a very bad precedence and the foundation of where we are today as a nation, the gladiators are still looming large, unrepentant and writing poisonous letters up and down. For some of us who suffered untold consequences for daring to be different it was hellish. However, the joy and prospect of a great nation that our heroes envisioned is the consolation. When we set this quest for truth as our intention, we are opening ourselves up to finding a new awareness of what is, rather than what we believed previously.
What is more, only then can we allow the screens of judgement and bias that we have manufactured within us to slowly drop away. This is a life-long process, but it is empowering to know and understand that almost anything in life can be adjusted with a change of perception. For those who do not know, Nigeria’s presidential election will take place today, Feb. 25, 2023. It would be the seventh consecutive poll following the restoration of civil rule in 1999 and a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward consolidating its nascent democracy. As such, Nigerians are in dire need of a sincere personality as President, not the type of leader who is swimming in religious bigotry, tribalism and always thinking at a pedestrian level.
It is against this backdrop that I will like to share with us a recent event as witnessed by an associate of mine. Find below as shared with me:
“SAD AND WORRISOME.
I witnessed an accident of inconsequential dimension at Utako market in Abuja this afternoon. It involved a man and woman. While bystanders pleaded with the man to let go, he insisted that the damage must be repaired. After about an hour of arguments, the woman agreed to transfer money but network wasn’t available. So, she suggested that they go to her panel beater who is close by for repairs but the man vehemently refused. Then, the man dropped a bombshell! “I can never forgive you because you don’t speak my language”. My heart skipped for this seemingly and innocuous statement with a deep and underlying. interpretation. We are gradually and seriously condescending to bestiality and we are ignoring the ominous signs they portend. What has a minor accident got to do with religion and tribe?
I was glad that well meaning Nigerians of both divide tried to calm frayed nerves without success.
All the good Samaritans who had gathered to proffer solutions began to melt into the crowd as tempers began to rise. Those boys could be armed and could trigger a riot of unprecedented proportions. The cash crunch worsened the situation as we left the woman at the mercy of the hoodlums who were gradually gathering momentum. May God save and rescue her. I have been restless since then.
Parents, religious leaders, politicians and the elites; beware the ides of February and beyond and what you tell the teeming population of youths who are looking for a way to vent their spleen. They will one day come back to devour you so never think that you are safe and isolated from harm. History is replete with situations like this with dire consequences. We are sitting on a keg of gun powder and it behoves on us to be wise. The world is watching the Giant of Africa, let’s maintain some level of decorum and maturity if we want to exist as one in the years to come.
PEACE BE STILL AND MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU ALL.”
In my view, the above scenario should have been avoided completely. Anybody or group of people preaching divisiveness “We Vs them” are the real problems. Elections should ordinarily be festivals of democracy; not a “do-or-die” affairs, but Nigeria’s political history has recorded episodes of elections as wars. recalled that Nigerians accepted Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), of the blessed memory despite his selection of a Muslim running mate in the June 12, 1993 election, regarded as the fairest and fairest poll in the history of the country. It was indeed his deep aversion to poverty and the avoidable suffering of majority of our people that compelled MKO to contest Nigeria’s presidency, and thus, his campaign slogan was ‘Farewell to Poverty’. ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS.
WE STAND ON THE THRESHOLD OF HISTORY LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN AGAIN LIKE JUNE 12, 1993.
Richard Odusanya